Members' Journal
Spring, 2003
On March 11, one week before the war in Iraq began, we asked our members to send us their thoughts on working and living in such anxious and uncertain times. We received dozens of responses within that week—and a few more after the first bombs fell. Excerpts from some of the letters appear in the spring issue of our newsletter, NY MATRIX; those replies and many more appear in their entirety below. The opinions expressed are of course entirely the writers' own.
Our Members Respond:
What are your strategies to stay focused, stay positive, stay active—in your job, your life, your community?
I don't seem to have any problems staying focused or staying positive. I walk every morning (or go to the gym), I have an absolutely great, stimulating career (for 24 years) that keeps me excited and ready to go every morning. I go to sleep relatively early (10ish) and am up around 6:00 to enjoy the sun coming up over the NYC skyline and spend a quiet few minutes with my COFFEE by myself! My family is very important and I speak with my Mom/Dad/Son several times a week... that keeps me focused, after all, my Dad is 89 and still working and my Mother keeps me traveling all over the place with concerts and she's 78... talk about energy! AND, my husband cooks dinner and does the crummy errands... what else could you ask for?
What about the renewal of energy and optimism that spring normally brings, and how does that figure into the mix?
What are your hopes (or fears) this spring? Like all my friends, the threat of war has dampened spirits and we worry about the effects on the world and the associated effects on ourselves. On the other hand, with optimism "springing" eternal ... I am ready to enjoy blossoms, the headiness of a walk in a warm sunny day, Passover with my family, accompanying my Mother to a commemorative ceremony in Poland, a great trip to the South of Spain in May.
Do the times we're living in resonate for you with earlier events or periods in your life?
No, Being a mother of a grown son, tints the way I feel about many things.
How are "ordinary" folks like us working through this period of change and uncertainty—and what can we do to be, or at least feel, useful and engaged?
Compared to the majority of Americans, I don't think many of us in WICI are ordinary. We are fortunate to be so much more educated and in touch with colleagues, interested in each other, opinions, culture, political doings. We are leaders in many fields and involved with defining how others think. Chose a charity, become active in a community project, forget about buying "things"... the busier you are with projects that make a difference in someone else's life, the more useful and engaged you become!
Best Regards,
Betty Murphy
Hang in there! Spring, at least on the calendar, is only weeks away.
Meanwhile, think sunny, warm days, plan for a vacation, be optimistic and know that this dreary winter soon will pass.
On the first great day of glorious sunshine I'm going to frolic in the park—want to join me for a very different demonstration-celebrating the joy of life!
That joy of life is our true survival kit.
Best,
Maryanne Russell
Every morning I start the day by meditating. This puts me in a positive frame of mind. As a TV personality and owner of trends research company, I feel it is my role to focus on the present and to make sure my team around me stays focused on the positive and on the elements we can control, and then we let go of the elements which are out of our control. I look at every experience as being temporary... and if something or someone seems particularly trying I tell everyone what we can learn from this, how this is going to make us stronger...
Katlean de Monchy
Nextpert News Network
I think this is so timely—living and working in New York, I think it's especially difficult to remain positive about almost everything.
But to keep my spirit up, I try to appreciate something small; an enjoyable moment, a pretty flower, a memory of when I was a child. I try to focus on these things to remind myself that on the whole, things may look bleak, but by really looking or stopping for a second, I can catch something beautiful that reminds me that that is also part of life and this world. I use this approach to keep me upbeat at work and home. I also try to surround myself with positive people, see and have fun with friends and spend as much time with my wonderful husband as possible!
I am hoping that the Spring will boost everyone's spirits! We need sunshine and warmth again.
My hope for this year is that the world becomes stable again, my fear is that it won't.
My other fear is for my family and friends, worrying about their safety (2 of my brothers are NYC police officers, as well as 2 close friends and my older brother is a federal agent).
I think that the majority of people that I know deal with their lives day to day—hoping for the best, but realizing that it is out of their hands. I think we all pray that our leadership can protect our way of life and our families. I also think we all know that things-life-will never be the same, but we have to keep living and I mean really living for our children and generations that will come after us.
Ellen Mauro
Publicist, The Parenting Group/Time Inc.
Being freelance I should be used to uncertainty, but I'm not.
Every day is different. I try to exercise every morning, even if only for a half-hour (some of my best ideas arrive on the treadmill); push myself to go to activities like my French conversation group, go to church (it's the organized activity aspect of it as much as a group of people I know and like and the praying, tho' I have my doubts about whether or not She's listening sometimes) and when I feel like yelling and crying, I do so.
I find venting very helpful, but only with someone who truly understands. It's boring to hear yourself complain all the time, and others have their own problems, so one has to be careful as to whose ear they grab. I'm lucky in that I have a sister who not only understands where I'm coming from, but is also a freelancer!
Nothing too extraordinary here, but hope I've been helpful.
Michele Keith
I've been staying positive and focused during this time by spending my time on the things that really matter—my family, my friends, my boyfriend, and my writing--and I stay calm by listening to music, exercising, and meditating. I also believe that it is crucial to surround oneself with positive people.
I also read a great deal of British history, so I know that the way the British coped during wartime, especially during World War II, was to live their lives normally. During the Blitzkreig in London, British citizens still went to the music halls and cafes, and tried to enjoy their lives while they still had the chance. I always try to remember this anytime I feel anxious, and it really does inspire me.
In spite of impending war, I believe that this Spring will be a good one. And I believe that we can all make it a good one by getting involved in positive work like volunteering with the anti-war movement, or helping to improve the city by working with the homeless. The perfect antidote to depression and anxiety is positive action. Together we make a real difference.
Gina Sigillito
Copywriter
Kensington Publishing
How am I coping? I am a nervous wreck! It's been tough lately to be French in New York!
For the past 13 years that I have been in the US, I've been asked countless times: "Where are you from?" And as many times, my answer has been: "From France." Most everyone would then tell me how much they loved France, the food, the wines, etc. etc.
Because I am also of Portuguese origin, in the past few weeks I've been saying, "I am Portuguese," simply to avoid any discussion on the topic. Not because of animosity but I am just tired of justifying the position adopted by the French.
Indeed, most New Yorkers have been pretty sympathetic. And yes, there are always those who will say that the French are ungrateful and: "had we not been there in 1945, you'd be speaking German!" Well, to those, I will say that the French remember well who has helped them. But they also remember that the trucks and many cars that the Germans used to invade Paris were... American (yes, made by General Motors and Ford) and that the Messerschmitt shooting at everything were made by Opel, a GM company!
And remember: "[achieving] World peace through world trade?" Thomas Watson, the head of IBM said it. The same Watson who was decorated with the German Eagle by none other than Adolph Hitler himself (who also did the honors for Charles Lindbergh)!
But let's get back to today. Why this war, I ask?
Right after the September 11 terrorist attacks, American President George W. Bush vowed to fight terrorism. Yes, there were a few attacks aiming at destabilizing Al Qaeda and its leader, Osama Bin Laden. Since, then, what's been done? But Ben Laden seems to have disappeared from the radar screen, simply to be replaced by Saddam Hussein. A couple of weeks ago, a very important member of Bin Laden's group was arrested. The news made headlines only two days. Saddam Hussein was now the man in focus. But my question is: What does Hussein have to do with this war on terrorism? Yes, he was the first one to applaud the attacks; yes, he is a dictator that must be stopped. But does he really pose a danger to the westernized world? Not really, according to many leaders. So why this war?
Meanwhile, on March 19 starts the war against Iraq. On March 20, I don't know if I should take my son to his daycare located in the Federal plaza, one of the largest buildings in the US housing FBI and CIA offices. It takes me about one hour to open the door and leave. I decide I will not give in to fear. Yet, all the way there, I wonder what if...
...so I keep looking up, I look around, make sure when I enter the building that security officers are indeed checking everyone very carefully.
As I am ready to leave, my son puts in my hand a little blue car he had played with all the way into the daycare. I exit the daycare, sit down at a bench. I cry. I don't want this object to be the last one my son hands me!
Then images started to come... of that day, when I heard a strange noise, look up and see the first plane crash into the building. I remember two people jumping off the building. I remember holding my son's stroller very tightly as to protect him—or so I thought—from the falling debris. I remember running home, getting there and looking out of the window: only one building was standing up. I thought that the other one was maybe obliterated by the black smoke, and witness the second building's fall.
I remember thinking about my son's belongings at the day care buried for ever—such a trivial thought when other people were being killed.
I continue to have nightmares. Every day I have been worried about the lives of my son of my partner and of my friends. Now even more. So, why aren't we fighting those who really attacked and hurt this nation? Why aren't we bombing the countries that allowed Ben Laden to pursue his scheme?
Anonymous
What are your strategies to stay focused, stay positive, stay active—in your job, your life, your community?
I stay focused and positive by meeting with my colleagues on a regular basis. It's a great time to share ideas, concerns and issues and you would be surprised to find how much your problems are not as isolated as you may think.
I also stay active by keeping involved with non-profit organizations and their needs. For example, last year I was involved with Toys for Tots and a separate holiday event for our city children (this was a first time venture). It was a rewarding and exhilarating experience which I plan to repeat. I find that by reaching out to my friends/colleagues, our meetings bring comfort and insight... especially needed today to offset the negative aura of our troublesome times.
What about the renewal of energy and optimism that spring normally brings, and how does that figure into the mix? What are your hopes (or fears) this spring?
Spring is a changing season... it brings new focus to old issues and creates a path for new ones. It seems that this spring I will be finding myself in a position of "job searching." The fear and anticipation of that process brought me concern. However, my greatest assets are that of accomplishment, expertise, knowledge and reputation and I plan to incorporate these key factors into how I will meet these challenges.
What are my fears? The usual concerns of course... how long will the process be; financial issues, etc. But I focus on my hopes that once this whole process is complete... I will have met and surpassed my challenges and goals... as I have done so many times in my career before.
How are "ordinary" folks like us working through this period of change and uncertainty—and what can we do to be, or at least feel, useful and engaged?
Many of my colleagues were lost on September 11 and there will never be a day that I wish to experience in my life again. But look at what we accomplished... we survived the worst act of terrorism in our history.
So what is really important?
Knowing that we can reach out to our friends and colleagues and become more involved.
Knowing that we can make changes in our personal and business lives.
Knowing that we can influence others who have greater challenges to succumb.
Knowing that we can...
Maurizia L. Reeser
Senior Vice President
Chubb Financial Solutions, 212-329-8175
I guess like many women, in New York City or any where else on the planet, I am very concerned about both major problems and minor ones.
I am concerned about the possibility of war - and the probability of many people I see everyday in my neighborhood losing their jobs if the economy stays the way it is.
I find that I have to "think my way out" of this kind of depressing anxiety—by doing for others, whether through Church or Community outreach, when I make some else my priority for a little while it helps me put my problems into good perspective.
I know that there are lots of groups looking for short term help—no long intense commitments—like Senior Centers, hospital "helpers" programs, and others that are suffering right now as well.
I guess that kind of perspective helps me keep a grip.
Lisa Bransdorf
President, University Division - Greater Talent Network
Good afternoon. Anything I can do for NYWICI is fine by me. You guys have helped me so much. I am a senior at St. John' s University in Queens, New York and I am doing an internship at Cosmo Girl Magazine. I am profusely scouring for a job for this coming May when I will have received a Bachelor's of Science in Journalism, and have been told that now may be a little too early to start applying for jobs and of course I have been getting the constant response from everyone that "times are rough" right now. However, since I am originally from Boston, I am also making the big move from Boston into New York City officially. So I would like to have a job lined up for me for this spring because i will also need an apartment.
Everything is pretty hard right now because I don't know what the future holds for me, but honestly I do pray for something real. I am always told by many people that "with your experience and qualifications, you should have a problem finding a job as soon as one opens up." Well, that something is a rare opportunity in these times, and I just will stop at nothing to get it. I was born with persistence and ambition to achieve just what i want out of my life in my career-wise and personally. I just hope something will come through, and I know that all I can do is keep pursuing my dream of becoming a magazine journalist and letting nothing get in my way.
Every day I search and scour the internet for jobs in my field and I hear by word of mouth about jobs from friends, old internship supervisors, and whatever other source I can find.
I know that we are in hard times right now, but you have to stay positive, pursue the dream AND NEVER GIVE UP DREAMING. It is important to maintain your ambition and your goals. You may get a job that may not be ideal, but you must work your way and know that that is not the end. The end is when you yourself stop that dream, so don't let yourself down.
Candice Frederick
I have found that by networking with others in the communications industry and other fields which depend on communications in whatever form is a tremendous help to me. It's important for me to let others know that I have skills which could be useful to their projects, and then I tailor my pitch to their project. Sometimes there is not immediate use for me, but there have been some really positive surprises. Just don't give up, even if there are challenging moments. I also look at this "uncertain" time as a valuable learning experience for me. There may be additional skills which I need to learn, and can for free or a very nominal fee.
To my NYWICI sisters, please, please, please do not think this is the end, although some aspects of the communications profession have changed forever-like it or not. Probably, the fact that I am a member of NYWICI is both a positive and strong factor in that I still feel very much connected in some way with women in communications.
Beki Pastor
Voice-Over Talent
I think the results you will receive will be fascinating to read. My name is Jeanne McDonald and I'm a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
I heard shortly after 9/11 from a third party how her neighbor was dealing with the stress of living and working in New York and dealing with the grief of 9/11 and threats of future terrorist acts, and I have chosen to follow that person's vision in order to keep myself focused, engaged and positive. What this person suggested was that we are all soldiers in the war against terrorism. While we did not volunteer for service, we have been drafted. However, we have not been asked to go to a foreign country to fight the war. The job that we have been assigned as a soldier in this war is simply to go about our normal daily lives, taking the buses and trains and traveling over the bridges and through the tunnels, etc. Since the cause is bigger than any one of us, or even thousands of us, we know in our hearts that we are serving a valuable purpose every day.
My e-poem for you:
Do something fun,
And have a great day
While you're doing that
I shall pray --
For us, for all
GOD BLESS THE USA
As a new mother, I am thinking differently about the possible human toll this war could mean.
For the first time in my life I am really considering what it must be like to send a daughter or son off to war—the mix of pride and fear for their safety. At the same time I pray for all of the mothers and children in Iraq who are living in so much uncertainty.
As for staying positive, the key is connecting with people—networking with other professionals and touching base with family members and friends who are scattered across the country. Getting involved in some kind of volunteer work can give a sense of control and a feeling of contribution to a greater cause.
Beth Mauro
Mauro Barry Communications
I have been facing our times head on, moving straight through rather than circling the perimeter or running in the opposite direction. I have my moments when I want to shout "Stop the World!" but those really serve my work and my self development. I practice R&R, research and reflect. Let me give you an example. Just reading the Times in the morning I can feel real fear about the state of the world and the state of our country (will I be alive a month from now and will I be earning a living) or knowing I will be on a radio talk show in the Midwest to address the morality of this war and feeling "stage fright" (can I keep my cool and say anything that makes sense let alone drive people to buy my audiobook) or wondering about what my son is going to do when he graduates from college in December (just how do poets pay their rent?). So the common threads in all three experiences are the physical sensation and the swirling emotion of FEAR. So rather than focusing on the source of the fear, I begin to inwardly research and reflect on fear itself. I feel fear all the time, so do my clients, but I have spent over fifty years with this feeling and never looked at fear itself. How does fear grab hold of and control my thoughts and my behaviors? Is fear ever good or appropriate? What would a life without fear be like? What are the various levels of fear (hesitation to terror). What emotions do I have about fear (animals just have emotions, humans have emotions about their emotions!)? All this work has led me to the experience that I have fear, fear no longer has me. I then have some real freedom in my relationship with fear. Fear is related to our sense of aliveness. Sometimes it protects our aliveness, sometimes it destroys it. I choose to be outrageously alive even in these times of fear.
Lynn Jericho
Foursquare Conversations LLC
Early in my career...
One night I was working late (11pm) with my boss and it was getting to me. He said "Just remember this job is what you do, it is not who you are" I have repeated that to coworkers and industry people quite a lot recently, many who have just lost their jobs. I do give 100+ percent every day—but no matter what happens here at work—I am still a great daughter, sister, friend etc. This enables me to put things in perspective. (That boss is still a mentor to me.)
Spring is coming—with this dreadful winter coming to an end (we wish) we can only hope for a feeling of renewed energy but with all that is going on in the world it is sometimes hard to do that. I think productivity helps—for some it may be updating their resume, for others it may mean cleaning their closets or beginning a diet and exercise regimen (summer is coming) or enrolling in a class. It is a feeling of accomplishment—no matter how large or small—that motivates.
So much more I could say but I won't go on... [BUT SHE DID, IN A SECOND E-MAIL]
Oh, and I sing at work—current song, old songs, TV show theme songs, show tunes—whatever pops in, probably annoying to some people I work with but most seem to enjoy it.
Alicia Rosenfeld
Manager, Advertising Sales
TV GUIDE
Phone - (212) 852-7554
I am not really being affected by what is going on. I have decided to exclude myself from the news and media. When the 9/11 attacks took place I almost went insane. I had horrible anxiety and was very depressed. I have realized that this situation is completely out of our control. No matter what we do, we can not change anything that may happen. Therefore, I just ignore the entire thing. I do not listen to the news, read the newspapers, or discuss this matter with my friends and family. It is not worth me getting worked up over and being miserable. Life is too short.
Melissa Echeverri
Here are a few thoughts of mine.
No one likes uncertainty. We seem most relaxed when we are in control and firmly fixed in routine. But that, perhaps, has been too deeply entrenched and too false a sense of security—completely out of step with the human condition. When at any time in the long chronicle of human existence has there really been entitled routine? So, I am feeling baffled and buffeted but in a funny way much more in touch with the primal instincts of survival and the recognition that routine plays second fiddle to adjusting to life's threats. It's a wake up call to LIFE.
We in this family are constantly thinking about geographical changes, school changes, packing masks in back packs or not, emergency kits, food supplies, back up plans, escape routes. But having addressed these things is itself comforting because I know I am not skirting life. I am grateful to be able to face reality, which in this case means, not panicking but accepting uncertainty as part of the human condition as it was for my parents and forbears, and taking the baton from them with pride responsibility and aplomb. So it goes.
AK Corbin
NAIVE INC
What are your strategies to stay focused, stay positive, stay active—in your job, your life, your community?
In this time of uncertainty, it is important to maintain the balance between work and "life." I have committed to a regular exercise schedule—especially yoga classes—and remain focused on the positive energy that I, as one person, can generate. If I can stay positive, I can affect those I work with, those I live with and those I communicate with each day.
What about the renewal of energy and optimism that spring normally
brings, and how does that figure into the mix? What are your hopes (or
fears) this spring?
I think the change of weather will raise spirits. March is always a bleak
month—between the long and very severe winter and the impending war,
this March is particularly bad. The worst thing that could happen would
be a domestic terrorism attack, but if we make it to the summer without
any incidents, I am hopeful that the focus on the war will dissipate.
Do the times we're living in resonate for you with earlier events or
periods in your life?
I have never experienced anything quite like the current energy level or
negative vibe that exists right now (although I imagine the anti-war
sentiment is similar to that of the Vietnam War age.)
How are "ordinary" folks like us working through this period of change
and uncertainty—and what can we do to be, or at least feel, useful and
engaged?
Listen to the concerns of others—sometimes talking is the most helpful
therapy. Focus on the positive things that exist in your life: the
presence of loved ones, family, positive life events (births, weddings,
etc.), sunny days, good health and employment. The little things can add
up to make the whole picture brighter.
Beth Corwin
Management Supervisor
Patrice Tanaka & Company, Inc. (PT&Co.)
I've been blessed to have started a new job, so it's been a new beginning for me. Which means, focusing on doing the best I can at work. I force myself to exercise daily, even if I don't feel like it, because I need it. I pay attention to the news but stopped watching it obsessively. I try so hard to help my jobless friends find jobs—after all, when I moved to New York to pursue a magazine career last year, I didn't have a job, either. Keep smiling, keep praying, and volunteer wherever you can. It's a cliche, but true: just live your life to the fullest. We can't predict what's going to happen, but we can control what happens in our own lives.
Sally Farhat
Editorial Assistant
Parents magazine
In order to stay focused on my future goals, I keep myself engaged in what I love to do—writing and photography. I continually accept assignments for the Daily Targum, the Rutgers University daily newspaper, and work for the Air Force ROTC Public Affairs staff. Working in these two fields allows me to strive towards my future goals as a journalist.
To stay enthusiastic and positive about one's goals, a relaxing vacation is of course needed. To de-stress from mid-terms and the bustle of the semester, I enjoy spending time out doors either playing sports with friends or exploring new areas.
To feel engaged, the American public has to stay up to date with what is going on in the world domestically and abroad. We have to remember that there are always more sides to a story than just one. By attending seminars, speeches, protest events, etc., people can better educate themselves on the world situation and help themselves to develop well rounded opinions.
Melanie McLean
Student
AWC member- Rutgers University Chapter
It is very difficult to remain centered and productively engaged during this time. I have been doing a number of things to maintain a positive focus. Perhaps this could help other NYWICI members. Some are more cerebral than others, but I'll just list them all.
—Keep fresh flowers on my desk as a reminder that life is beautiful.
—Keep snapshots of family and friends on my computer so I can take a glance whenever I need a "lift."
I am working out at the gym more than ever. We have a company gym, and even if I take a short break (30 minutes), I feel it's worthwhile. It can really affect your mood.
I am definitely using goal lists more than ever before. It's harder to get started in the morning, so if I give myself "assignments" for the day, I push myself more.
I love New York, especially the theatre, and I will continue to go during this time. In fact, I just bought tickets to two performances for this week and next. I enjoy going by myself as well, to take some time to think and enjoy the solitude. Art/being creative has a wonderful way of inspiring me and my creative process, so I am trying to take in as much as possible. In fact, I also started baking again—which I haven't done in years—with my youngest son. Making dough from scratch really took the edge off of a tough day.
Anonymous
All I know is that we (the everyday hardworking people) don't have all the facts and hope that those that have more information are making a decision based upon our collective safety and not their egos. I will tell you that I have never had to create a personal family disaster plan before, and it's very scary. There are a lot of "what if's" and how to manage a potential disaster in NY with older family members. I believe there will be a lot of praying.
Maureen Healy
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
My friend Elizabeth Winthrop, a novelist and the author of many children's books, said to me over lunch last month: "In the 20th century, our parents went through two world wars, the Great Depression, and the Joseph McCarthy era. Those were three of the great, significant cataclysms of the last century—and in some strange way, early in the 21st century, events of that nature seem to have collided. Now, all of these things seem to be happening at once. We are on the brink of what feels like an enormous war, we have been in a serious recession, with no clear way out—and we are losing our civil liberties as they are eaten away at day by day."
This is the view of someone who grew up a mile from the White House, the daughter of a famed political journalist—but who now writes fiction for a living. Yet to me, her statement had the ring of truth.
Margot Witty
Jamieson Witty Associates
What are your strategies to stay focused, stay positive, stay active—in your job, your life, your community?
Patrice is a great motivator and reminds us in monthly office meetings
about remaining positive. In my life, I try to focus on events and
projects I can control and make better—my professional/personal
development, my relationships with co-workers and loved ones, my health,
etc. I spend a lot more time cooking than I have in the past, more time
reading and planning for personal events.
What about the renewal of energy and optimism...
The weather in the northeast this winter has been tough on everyone's
mood. Feeling the sun getting stronger, brighter and coming up earlier
every day is more of a blessing than ever before. I have a six-week
sabbatical to travel Europe planned for May-June 2003 and am very hopeful
about that. I'm fearful about what may happen in the Gulf, how our
country (and therefore each of us as Americans) will be perceived by our
actions, and if the economy could become even worse before it improves.
Do the times we're living in resonate for you with earlier events or periods in your life?
I was in high school during the Gulf War, so the wartime economy is a new
experience for me. I now live in a volatile community (Manhattan) and
have more personally and professionally at stake if war occurs this time
around. I could be more distanced last time and I find myself looking for
ways to distance myself again this time.
How are "ordinary" folks like us working through this period of change...
To me, a period of change and uncertainty means you have to look inside,
determine what is most important, vital, to making you happy and do it.
To feel more useful to the community or to the war effort could entail
writing to a soldier stationed abroad, donating more time to community
groups that are losing funds (shelters, after school groups, even the Girl
Scouts are desperate for adult volunteers) or simply donating blood at a
local hospital. Doing something out of your normal routine may be enough
to make you feel more engaged.
Lauree Ostrofsky
Account Supervisor
Patrice Tanaka & Company
Be blessed with joy, peace and prosperity.
Ramona Clay
What are your strategies to stay focused, stay positive, stay active--in your job, your life, your community?
My business has slowed severely. So, while staying in the same basic business, I am focused on making changes. I'm bringing a new product to market that represents a major improvement on what I has been available to clients. I'm changing the name of my business to reflect this new direction, and I'm investing time and resources for my future growth—now!
I'm also spending more time with friends and family, an investment perhaps even more rewarding than what I'm putting into my business.
Do the times we're living in resonate for you with earlier events or periods in your life?
I've been around long enough to have survived a couple of recessions and one severe inflationary period. Actually, everyone I knew at those times survived them, so I believe we'll all get through this period as well. In fact, in every difficult economic period there have been people who experience considerable success. Of course, that success comes only to those who hang in there and maintain enough confidence in themselves and the world to see the tough times through.
I've also see quite a few scary times—one cold war and too many hot ones, the Cuban missile crisis, and, as a young mother of two children, the period when everyone was testing atomic bombs, there was talk of global annihilation, and you feared strontium-90 in the milk was killing your babies. Once again we look at a world that threatens us, our way of life, and those we love. And once again we can only deal with it by finding the strength to simply "keep on keeping on". To do anything else means that the world has beaten us—and we won't allow ourselves to lose. We know that everything the world throws at us has only "come to pass", and pass it will—and we will still be standing!
Afraid I've gone on a bit. Didn't even know I felt this way. Thanks for making me look at my own feelings!
Isabel L. Kersen, PhD
The Power Edge®
I am 'in transition' in more ways than one. Living in these unusual times
not only presents an economic and career challenge but also a profound
spiritual challenge. I must learn to choose between fear and hope, faith and
despair, moving forward or staying stuck.
In order to cope with being caught up in this slipstream of chaos and
change, I write. Writing has become my therapy and therapist. I write
articles on the rebirth and resurrection of Ground Zero and post them to my
Web site. I write articles on how technology impacts our lives and post them
on my new Web site dedicated to demystifying technology. I write long
e-mails to friends and long entries into my journal. When the going gets
really rough, a poem or essay, hammered out in the dark night of my soul,
keeps me from falling into the abyss.
As time sped away from 9/11 and moved into the desert of International
crisis, I have learned that there is no way to plan for the future. I have
accepted that and have learned to live with uncertainty with the help of my
friends, my religion, and my creativity. Even though the life I live today
is not vastly different from my past, I realize that at the drop of a pin,
all may change. However, some things NEVER change: Winter turns into Spring,
Easter follows Lent, and the sun will always rise on a new day. I continue
the job search, create new projects, make new friends. I can only hope that
in being a useful, productive, kind human being, I will negate some of the
negativity that tries to overpower this world. What more could I wish?
Leona Seufert
Freelance writer
For me, dedicating myself to hard work and spending my time with family [and] friends is the only way to keep me focused in this very unpredictable time.
Michelle Fine
Program Development Manager
Thomson Media, Inc.
As a literary agent, what I am doing is staying as focused as possible on what's working in the book market. When times are uncertain, it tunes up everyone's sense of risk. Publishers tend to publish less around their personal enthusiasms and more around the bottom line (the green visor has replaced the high hat, so to speak). This means my publishing clients are not in the mood to take big gambles, to take a flier on an unproven topic or author. What's attractive to them are authors with a public platform with content that looks like it will find a ready audience and generate word-of-mouth sales. Right now, my job is to help my authors navigate this climate, while reminding them that one day it will pass.
Caroline Carney
President, Book Deals, Inc.
In my opinion, it is important to remember, in this unsettling and tenuous time, that we are a great country that has, unfortunately, seen strife and unrest before but, because we remained strong as a people, we prevailed. The adversity we face as war looms would be far worse if we lost faith in our country. War is painful at all costs. Its ramifications are too vast to mention. While soldiers are out there willing to lay down their young lives to protect us, we should bolster them and support them with our belief in our country's greatness.
Joan Mansbach
President, Mansbach Creative
As a media and presentation coach I have heard a lot of speeches and messages over the years. While I am not in favor of war, I am appalled at the amount of rhetoric generated by our President about this war. The deadlines and ultimatums being set and then reset are what's keeping most of us unfocused. If we must go to war, then stop the rhetoric and do whatever it is to get this done and over with.
Joyce Newman
President, The Newman Group, Inc.
Volunteering to help those less fortunate then ourselves helps put our own problems in perspective.
Crista Giuliani
TV Studio Manager
Institute of Technology
I am appreciating more the beauty of friendships and family. Recently took up Yoga and am using it to relax and focus on the things I can control. I listen less to the news bombardments and read more interesting novels.
Judy Rosemarin
Sense-Able Strategies, Inc.
Like many other NYWICI members who've devoted years of their professional lives to achieving positive results through effective public relations strategies and diplomacy, I am saddened that our country has had to resort to the unthinkable.
I wish that our organization could use its clout to impact the war effort in some major humane way. Perhaps we could offer to help the families of the military—even if it's just some of the families from our immediate metropolitan area—with their communications needs. Not everyone has access to computer technology; not everyone finds expressing themselves on paper to be an easy task. Our organization might really be able to make a difference if it set up a volunteer letter writing bureau for families with loved ones overseas.
Terri Park Hyde,
Former TV executive and owner
MyWordsPrecisely.com
I write for a living, and yet I find it very hard to put into words the way
I feel these days. I know this much, when I was 7 years old, my father was
drafted into WWII, and that certainly had an effect on me. I shudder to
this day, at the thought of war.
In the 70's, when there was a lottery draft for a short period of time, I
was prepared to move to Canada with my three teenaged sons, not for lack of
patriotism, but because I remember only too well the way that I felt when my
father was fighting in Germany, especially when the Purple Heart was sent
home after he was shot twice.
I have no trouble concentrating on my work, but have taken the "precaution"
of keeping a handbag sized flashlight and flat shoes in the office. What
good it will do if the Trump/GM building, where I work on the 40th floor is
stricken in some way, I don't know, but I needed to do something to make me
feel more secure at work.
I do have trouble sleeping at night. I used to love hearing the helicopters
(we live near the East River heliport) and planes go by at night. Now they
frighten me. When I can't sleep, I write poetry. I wrote three poems the
night of 9/12/00, and somehow remembered a poem I wrote about war as a
child.
Since 9/11, I have an insatiable desire to see my children and grandchildren.
Prior to that, sometimes months went by without our visiting each other, as
we live quite a distance from one another. But since 911, we've spent
almost every weekend visiting one or the other of my sons and their
families, or they have come to visit us, in Manhattan.
I think you have to take it "one day at a time," and do whatever little bit
you think you can to help our country in some way. I, personally, will not
buy anything made in France or Russia... not wine, cheese, caviar, or even
clothing. I always felt "buying American" was a good idea, but now I
wouldn't think of buying anything from anywhere else. This is my small
contribution. I remember when I was a child we collected twine and metal
and rubber, and there was a centralized depot to bring our collections to.
We really thought they made tires for tanks and the metal was for bullets,
out of the piddly pieces we collected. I don't really know what was done
with the stuff we brought, but I do know it made us all feel good and
useful. We must all try to find something to do to make us feel helpful to
our government in some way, and to support our president, regardless of our
personal political affiliations.
There is STILL no other country in the world like the United States of
America, and if anyone thinks differently, let them try living in Russia or
better still, be an American in Paris!
Barbara Zapson
Executive Correspondent to the Chairman
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
Now is not the time to hunker down; now is the time to step up, to make decisions, to get back in touch with your passions. The greatest antidote to fear is action.
Gail Blanke
CEO/President
Lifedesigns
With mounting anxiety about war, especially when bombarded by reminders in
the news every day, it's been difficult to stay focused on "business as
usual;" so, in order to distract myself from the looming realities at
large, I've made a concerted effort to take a fresh approach to work. How
can we improve upon what we are doing? How can the pages of our magazine be
more inviting, relevant, and speak more directly to our reader? What feels
old, or isn't working anymore, and how can we fix it? Refurbishing and
refreshing takes a lot of energy, and puts a positive spin on the work at
hand, thereby balancing the fear factor with exciting new challenges each
day. Suddenly projects I've held on the back burner to try out "someday"
are more important to get to now, so I'm accomplishing more than ever.
Thus, while I feel terrible about what's going on in the world at large, I
feel personally more fulfilled than ever.
Diana Murphy
Editor-in-Chief
Country Living Gardener magazine
I am scheduled to leave for Arizona on Thursday, for an early Friday a.m. satellite media tour for a client. We have lined up a wonderful list of placements around the country, but as I write this, we may not know until the last minute whether news of war will eliminate coverage of our "fluffy" spring cleaning tips. Nevertheless, we just got client approval on the B-roll and tomorrow, plan to speak with the on-air talent to review the copy points.
I am attacking my other work as though I will be out of the office for two days and as though there will be every reason to move ahead on each project. Having this much to do is a blessing as it helps to keep my mind off the war and potential terrorism-that is, until I see a helicopter hovering over my office for an unknown reason or hear a rumor that an Avenue is closed, and no one can tell us why.
Jeanne Byington
President
J M Byington & Associates, Inc.
I stay sane—or somewhat sane—by doing everything I can to oppose and expose George W. Bush, an illegitimate President, and his unilateral war that is doing so much to make this a hated nation and to expose us to even more terrorism. The most important of these activities is to get out the vote so that we are no longer the least representative democracy in the world, and we once again have leaders who represent majority views. When I have done everything I can, then I try to write, see friends, dance, celebrate; everything to make clear that the religious and secular backlash is not in control of my life.
Gloria Steinem
What are your strategies to stay focused, stay positive, stay active—in your job, your life, your community?
I just found a job 2 months ago after a very long search. I don't have trouble staying positive, active and focused now. But it's important to me not to lose sight of the other work I do in my life--I'm writing a novel. I can stay on track with that by feeling energized when I write.
What about the renewal of energy and optimism that spring normally brings, and how does that figure into the mix? What are your hopes (or fears) this spring?
I hope I can keep my job and make friends in my new community. I fear the war we are embarking upon, and the continued threat of terrorism. But yes, with the warm weather creeping in, it's hard not to feel optimistic (and no children in the armed forces helps).
Do the times we're living in resonate for you with earlier events or periods in your life?
No... I don't think this is like Vietnam or anything I've lived through... the threat was never stateside before.
How are "ordinary" folks like us working through this period of change and uncertainty—and what can we do to be, or at least feel, useful and engaged?
Creative endeavors help me, as does reaching out to community, either through friends or religion, and staying in touch with the things I love most in life, i.e. music, good books, my dog, the outdoors.
Cynthia Gelper
Product Manager ExecuNet in Norwalk CT
(finally employed after an 11 month search)
I think that today's women in communications
professional is staying afloat by being innovative and
creative. This means staying in the loop with fellow
professionals, being creative in the job world by
expanding their skills. Most importantly, people seem
to be doing things they love like working with
volunteer groups and joining support groups to help
them through these trying times.
Elisa Keys
CEO
Events in the City
As an entertainment PR professional it is harder now—to remember that what I
am doing in my smaller "world of entertainment" is important. It helps to
remind myself that my clients (recording artists and record labels) depend on me
to help them achieve success and increase their CD sales.
Focusing on the people we affect—in our careers and personal lives is the answer.
Ellyn Harris
President
Buzz Publicity
Work, family and friends have become a refuge more than ever before. To say these are changing times is an understatement. As we find ourselves on the brink of war, it is unsettling to feel that as Americans we have no clear voice in the decisions that are being made, and receive no adequate answers to Why Now. Having lost friends in the 9/11 attacks, I must admit I had some very bad days in the aftermath. In fact, even now there are moments when feelings of rage still rise to the surface. Yet, I have been able to focus at work, sometimes I'm not sure how, but I think I'm even more focused now than I was before. With tragedy comes introspection, and for me personally my friends, family and my work have taken on a greater meaning and value. I have discovered a new strength in myself that I'm very happy about. Yet, with an impending war, I do feel an increased sense of fear and uncertainty for my city, our nation, the world and myself.
The bridges we built after 9/11 have fallen. Life as we knew it is in jeopardy. I think here at home, we are in danger, and that's not a good feeling. I am not optimistic that things will ever be the same again. But life does go on, and I believe it is my duty, my obligation to live it to the fullest. At the end of the day, I still have hope that peace will ultimately prevail. I believe each one of us was put on this earth for a reason, and I want to make the most of my life, and give my daughter the future she deserves. It's these beliefs that keep me going, and help get me through even the most difficult times. This is one of them..
Lynn Gardner
Director, Public Affairs
The History Channel
As a student graduating in the class of 2003, there is much pessimism about the worth of our college degrees since most of us cannot find jobs due to the uncertainty of the economy. Many companies are either laying off employees or not looking to do any more hiring at all. I think that with what's going on in the world today, we cannot let all the issues of the world dampen our spirits or have an effect on our optimism. For me, it's about living everyday without any anxieties or worries because ultimately a lot of what is going on is not in my control. The only thing that I can control is my attitude when I wake up every morning, which determines what kind of day I'm going to have. I can definitely understand that people are worried about tomorrow, but I just think that you should make the best out of today.
Life is short and the one thing I can say about tragic situations is that they really help us to put a lot of things into perspective and re-evaluate the way we live out our lives. I am simply trying to make sure that what I do today will be a cushion for me to fall back on tomorrow. I am trying to make important connections and build relationships with people who have been through what I'm currently going through and who can advise and guide me towards the right path. I am continuing to engage in the activities that bring joy to my life, and those that involve learning and being around positive people. We cannot live in fear because that would mean that we have stopped living. My sentiments on this issue is that everyone should continue to engage in the things that make them happy, seek comfort in the company of loved ones, stay spiritually connected and pray, and most importantly do what you can do today... tomorrow is not promised.
Arlette Daluz
St. John's University Student
Communications Major/ Business Minor
Queens, NY
I was laid off almost two years ago in high-tech pr. Got my own client right away worked with them through the summer and was to start another project with another company on 9/11. Needless to say the project never started and I lost both clients. Times for me have never been tougher. I went from peak performance to struggling professional. Lesser talented people had their jobs, but they also knew how to play the politics game in the office. I'm still learning how important that is. How do I cope? Strong faith is definitely a part of it as well as sense of humor. I continue to interview and had one job offer last year in downtown NYC but for obvious reasons did not want to commute down there. I thought better opps would come quickly. they didn't. Salary and being "over qualified" are key reasons why I haven't gotten other work. Things are picking up now more than last year so that's a good trend. Money for me is scarce and part-time work is calling. I've even dumb downed my resume for the part-time work as was suggested from some former colleagues. I know I don't deserve to be in this situation—not for lack of ambition, drive, talent, but as that awful saying goes "but for the grace of God goes I" many others don't either.
Anonymous
It's easy to develop a 'bunker' mentality when times are so challenging. I have found it helpful to devote time to organizations (like NYWICI) and to maintain as much contact with friends and colleagues as possible, and to work (independent of job commitments) on projects that are close to my heart.
Beth-Ellen Keyes
SpeakerSpace
What are your strategies to stay focused, stay positive, stay active—in your job, your life, your community?
Most importantly, STAY HEALTHY. Eat well, exercise and keep my mind busy
with things both in and outside of work. Most importantly, we need to look
at things relatively - for those of us fortunate to be working, we need to
recognize how lucky we are, no matter how small bonuses or pay increases
were this year, or how many hours we have to work. For those of us not
working, we need to be grateful to have health, family and friends, and the
skills for another great opportunity sometime in the future. This bad
economy is temporary -There are some very unfortunate people in this world,
who are ill or severely disabled and unable to work; that's not temporary.
(I don't know how to word what I am trying to say nicely, but do you know
what I'm trying to say?)
What about the renewal of energy and optimism that spring normally brings,
and how does that figure into the mix? What are your hopes (or fears) this
spring?
There's so much more to do outside of the office, more people to
meet, more networking think everyone just feels more energized in the
spring.
Do the times we're living in resonate for you with earlier events or
periods in your life?
I'm still early in my career, so I'd have to say no.
How are "ordinary" folks like us working through this period of change and
uncertainty—and what can we do to be, or at least feel, useful and
engaged?
Networking opportunities like NYWICI are a great way to stay
engaged. For those of us working, it's a great opportunity to offer help—
send someone's resume to a friend or colleague, submit a resume to your
office's HR department. You never know. In this economy, it's who you know
that will get you your next career opportunity. It makes me feel great to
help, even if, in the end, I only help one person find a job.
Ellen Winkler
Project Director
Prudential Financial
Not only do I join the world in living with the reality of war, but I also join the many others who have been unemployed for many, many months. Not feeling in control is the source of most anxiety. I have lived before through some desperate times in my life, and for some reason, it is during those times that I am the most creative. I dig deep down into myself and find a source of energy that is just for me. I find a voice that doesn't beat me down. I find that not warring with myself is my way of being able to hold opposing forces, and still be at peace. I feel my fears by taking the time to sit with them, just as I would sit with a frightened child. I don't keep the lid on until the pot boils over. Afterwards, I am somehow cleared to focus on the day. When I am at peace with myself, that energy makes a difference in my world.
Angela Kozlakowski
I find myself compulsively rushing to complete projects. Perhaps that's
because I feel as though I might be living on borrowed time. Possibly, I'm
running from deep and devastating feelings. Whatever the cause, my response
to being utterly powerless is to take control of whatever I can and frankly,
I'm not sure it's positive.
Yesterday, I had lunch with colleagues and we were collectively chagrined by
our feelings of helplessness. The discussion veered towards mind control
and the fact that we don't really live in a "free" society, when media
moguls control what we see and hear. We concluded that in an ideal world,
critical thinking ought to be taught in kindergarten and that by the time
children were pre-pubescent, they ought to be fully practiced at both
inductive and deductive reasoning. We concluded, sadly, that these are not
likely curricula in the foreseeable future.
Liz Taylor
Although it's a very scary and uncertain time, I personally feel even more empowered to stay focused and work hard. I've stopped reading the paper every day; I just skim it briefly and usually go to the Lifestyle/Food sections. I refuse to buy into the propaganda that's around us, so I put my head down and get to work on growing my business.
Colleen Jezersek
President
As a NYWICI member who is older than most... I have lived through war, life-threatening illness, deaths, financial disaster, and still think life is joyful. For things I can't control I turn over to a higher power, for all other problems I fight, struggle, create and stay afloat with enthusiasm. For to cope in any times of great stress you must have a passionate love affair with life itself. Then you take pleasure and joy as it presents itself... through family, friends, your work, conversation, movies, books, art... whatever turns you on... For me, humor has always been my survival kit...
(I want to thank you for your email... it motivated me to revive my seminars which I have not done for years... have a background nationally and internationally... Starting a seminar series on COPING... don't know if this merits a mention in newsletter... but I really think an older woman who has survived much has wisdom to share... you can check my website...
www.needascribe.com for my credentials... the first one is April 3rd and I have already signed up participants... you motivated me and I thank you... again... dealing with times of stress in a positive manner)
Roz Relin
President
Relin Communications, Inc.
I'm so tired of hearing the word "surreal" assigned to all this. Others come to mind: real unsettling, real dizzying, real absorbing, real frightening. I feel a strong personal undercurrent of the impending war—waiting for the other bomb to drop—and yet my clients are continuing in their efforts seemingly unswervingly and I respond in kind.
It's as if we've all collectively decided not to emotionally surrender. And yet, since retaliation, if not imminent, is nevertheless a certainty, I find myself torn between the comfort of being with family members far away, and the desire to stay close to my own home here.
Susan Myers
Accounts Director
Underline Communications
My "North Star" through good times and bad is staying focused on the human aspect of things. This means giving as much priority to personal life as career, and also keeping a personal element even in professional relationships. Fortunately for me, everyone in our firm shares these same values. It's a gift.
Kathryn Kempf
Vice President, B&Y Communications
No doubt staying focused during these unsettling times is difficult. One way that helps me look at the positive is to get into the garden. While that was difficult this winter, I focused my efforts on indoor gardening. Now that the nice weather is here, I am in the garden every chance I get. There is no confrontation in my garden, it is peaceful and serene and I am using my efforts to beautify a little piece of this earth. Beautiful trees and shrubs and colorful flowers make me feel good. Growing my own vegetables helps me feel I have some control over what I eat. Make time to get in the garden - it helps!
Maria Cinque
TV, Radio and Print Garden Communicator
Cinque Associates, Ltd.
What are your strategies to stay focused, stay positive, stay active—in your job, your life, your community?
I am trying to continue to live life normally, tho it's not easy and it feels strange to do so when our country is about to wage an unprovoked war. I have given a certain amount of free time to demonstrating against the war. I will also go to Albany to lobby against health care cuts.
What about the renewal of energy and optimism that spring normally brings, and how does that figure into the mix? What are your hopes (or fears) this spring?
My joy that spring is finally on its way is definitely tempered by the coming war as well as the state of politics and the economy in this country. I feel the current administration in Washington is leading this country in the wrong direction, economically and fiscally, which could have very bad results for us all.
Do the times we're living in resonate for you with earlier events or periods in your life?
Yes. I demonstrated against the Vietnam War, attending teach-ins and peace marches and writing letters to my congressional representatives. I never expected to have to do so again. Through my job, I also fought to maintain government supports and health care for senior citizens during the 1980s. It is very sad to have to fight the same fight again—but it must be done. And there is a certain energy that comes with doing something, which helps mitigate pessism.
How are "ordinary" folks like us working through this period of change and uncertainty—and what can we do to be, or at least feel, useful and engaged?
Those who oppose the war should do all they can to make their thoughts known, through letter writing and demonstrations. Those who believe cutting taxes and cutting government safety net programs should do likewise.
Mimi Koren
Marketing Liaison/Publications Editor for a geriatric center.
This has been one of the toughest years I can remember. Because I handle a
travel association and other travel accounts I have been barraged by media
requests on how the forthcoming war with Iraq is affecting travel. I spend
hours polling companies, only to find that sometime the media totally
disregards the information if it doesn't fit within their thesis.
How do I cope with all of this? I keep everything in perspective, and try to
go skiing to "chill out." I also try to write my congress people and take
action in any way I can to express my feelings about the current situation.
Linda Kundell
Kundell Communications
Living in New York has already been stressful since 9/11. We are now entering another phase of high "violence" in the world and hopefully New York will not be hit again. I am from Montreal (Quebec), and when I hear my family (and friends) from there talk about the "current" events it stresses me more because they seem to know more about the "world" and what's going on than we do here.
HOWEVER, I do not worry so much everyday in the subway, in the streets, etc. I worry more on a "global" level. I mean, what's going on this planet? Haven't we learned from history? Where is humanity leading to? That makes me re-evaluate my perspective in life in general. What do I want to achieve in my life, why, what have I done so far for humanity and the planet, etc. By the same token, I affect my friends' life too. I want something more meaningful in my life and that's why I am developing my own business in "healing". I practice reiki, and am involved in many women associations (endometriosis, writers, etc.) where I try to help and educate. I am a former university professor and feel that education should be taken beyond the "classroom". I guess there are good and bad consequences from this unstable moment in history. But for me, I try to focus on the good ones and put my energy there, and move on with that.
Viviane Casimir
Citibank, N.A.
Thank you for asking about my thoughts on today's world. As an executive recruiter and consultant and business coach, I am finding that foremost I must be rigorous in focusing relentlessly on what is positive in every level of my life personally and professionally, whether I am talking to friends or clients. I follow the news enough to know what I need to know for my life and business but otherwise I try to avoid getting absorbed in the details of dark new stories especially these days. Not because I want to be an ostrich but rather because I feel I can better contribute to peace in my world by avoiding places that lead me to focus on fear rather than uplifting whatever situation in which I find myself. I figure I can try to contribute to peace myself by not losing my temper or creating tension around me and when I do so cleaning it up as fast as possible. I believe in some small way then I will be contributing to what I pray is a growing swell of peace rather than war.
I have found that the economy has forced me to think very creatively as an entrepreneur. As an executive recruiter, I am finding many more executives than jobs available in which to place them so I have started another business called Buddhas in Business as a new approach for these challenging times. In this company, I focus on addressing the highest good and the highest purpose in the life of business and in the business of life, on revealing and melding the philosophical and metaphysical underpinnings of our lives with the practical how-to's of how to better create lives lived in compassion, peace, happiness and joy. Specifically, I am doing corporate, group and individual coaching and consulting from this perspective. One of my first offerings which I am finding appeals to many executives now is a workshop series entitled "Becoming Entrepreneur of Your Own Possibilities in Life".
Whether we work for others or for ourselves, we are always wittingly or unwittingly creating our lives in the flow of time. When we learn to observe ourselves mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically within this flow, we can begin to better understand who we are and how we might change and design our lives. I find many of my clients tend to live in our world split between head and heart, thinking work lives and "real lives" are separate. But in reality, our work lives are not separate from the rest of our Lives. Work at its best is worship, and has meaning; even with work we do not like, our work supports us to be able to enjoy the other areas of our lives.
This seems like the perfect time to seize the day and live my own business and life this way and to share this perspective with others looking to live more balanced and happy lives based on their own core values and integrity, and with meaning.
Buddhas in Business and
Entrepreneuer of Your Own Possibilites © Margaret Haas 2003.
I have been "in transition" for close to two years now. In the last 8-10 months I have slowly emerged from the down time, coming back to myself. Having lived in Europe for many years, I have a truly cross-cultural perspective and don't let myself get "carried away". Also, as a Jew, I tend to have a more long-term, historic view.
I think it's more important than ever to stay focused and work as productively as possible in these unstable times. Maintaining a state of normalcy, or super-normalcy, over and above the average., is what keeps me going. I am as active as I can, seeking out other people, especially women, not only to commiserate but to share thoughts and ideas, to support one another in many ways - sometimes just by calling, listening, being supportive. I find I get more creative this way and come up with new strategies for business as well as survival. I have also been very active in my community working on all sorts of projects, I have volunteered with the Met Council on Jewish Poverty. I think it crucial to be grateful for the prosperity and the happiness we do have, even in unsettled times. We are still relatively well off.
Elli Strauss
Elan International Marketing
What are your strategies to stay focused, stay positive, stay active—in your job, your life, your community?
Now with the start of the war, I feel as I did soon after 9/11 took place--apprehensive, unsure, worried, upset... In the end, what helped me post-9/11 was to hold dear those I cherish while, at the same time, to focus on the tasks at hand (whether they were at work, at home, in the community, etc.), so as to prevent any fatalistic thoughts from creeping in. Simply put, taking an active, grateful role in life, because "life does go on," helps. That includes trying to stick to a sane routine (including on the job), setting aside time for healthy endeavors such as exercise, spending time with family and friends, and the like. In addition, embracing one's spirituality can be a tremendous source of strength; prayer can be powerful.
What about the renewal of energy and optimism that spring normally brings, and how does that figure into the mix? What are your hopes (or fears) this spring?
I hope that by the time spring is in full force, that this war will be over with as few casualties as possible.
Do the times we're living in resonate for you with earlier events or periods in your life?
See the first question.
How are "ordinary" folks like us working through this period of change and uncertainty—and what can we do to be, or at least feel, useful and engaged?
Pray for a better world and remember that we are all part of a global village that deserves to live in peace.
Yvonne@waywithwords.com
